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At evw** -itae I 6 0 0 M * AS tlG H Tsy^ESU Si 7- ----- ----- ^ k P ŝ -4|it dull be URHt. I Iflwl IN THE WORLD. .Volume 56, No. 4 56th Year Guthrie, Oklahoma 350 Per Year June, 1978

Treasure of Knowledge

There is a treasure we must seek While on this earth we trod,

A mount to climb whose lofty peak Is only known to God:

The quest for knowledge pure and true Of life and godly fear,

To understand with clearer view The truth o f God so dear;

To learn of Him who died to save;His steps to follow through;

To grasp the teachings that He gave Heart-felt with purpose true.

This is life’s greatest toil; and yet How oft men miss the mark,

Supposing life is “ go” and “ get”While groping in the dark.

Not seeing, blinded by their lust,They walk life’s way below

While all their treasures mold and rust As to the grave they go.

The greatest thing that we can do Is sit at Jesus’ feet,

And listen to His counsel true,And walk His way so sweet.

All things that to our life pertain He gives to never dim,

And righteousness will be our gain Through knowledge blest o f Him.

How need we counsel! Look around— Behold man’s folly great;

The curse o f sin doth yet abound In fallen man’s estate.

Oh, seek for knowledge and be wise Life’s mysteries to solve,

Let Him enlighten now thine eyes,To do His will resolve.

— Leslie C. Busbee

Soul RestWhen the good old prophet Isaiah looked far down

through the ages with an eye o f faith, he beheld what we as the people o f God have the privilege o f enjoying while we journey through life. In Isa. 11:10, we read, “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.” How we should thank God for the privilege o f living in this gospel dispensation, for this sweet, tranquil soul-rest which we enjoy, and for the kingdom of peace and joy which the dear Lord establishes in the hearts o f his saints!

This soul-rest is obtained only upon conditions o f obedience to the precious Word of God. In Jer. 6:16, we read, “Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” Through this Scripture we learn that this blessed experience is only obtained through knowledge to God’s Word and will, and perfect obedience to the same. It is therefore necessary that we should earnestly and diligently seek the ways of the Lord, seek to know His will, and then as soon as a ray o f light flashes across our pathway, walk in it with an obedient heart.

As our blessed Lord looked out upon this sin-cursed world and beheld man in his lost condition, bowed down under the heavy load o f sin and condemnation, with sorrow and grief pressing heavily upon him, His great heart o f compassion was touched, His heart o f love was moved. Hear Him as He tenderly, gently says: “ Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30. Were more beautiful words ever uttered? Did sweeter music ever fall upon the ear of man? O weary, troubled soul, look up, believe God’s Word and the clouds will soon pass away.

In olden times there were numerous good things in the promised land for the children o f Israel to enjoy: but many entered not in because o f unbelief. Just so it is today. Many precious things are held out for the people of God to enjoy right here in this life, but some do not receive and enjoy them because of unbelief. They stagger at the promise of God. May the Lord help us to doubt His Word no more, but to rest on His promises.

Page Two FAITH AND VICTORY Jane, 1978

Even after we are saved and have given ourselves to the Lord, the enemy of our souls will do all he can to disturb the quietness and peace of mind and heart. There are many trying things in life to meet, many hard places to pass through. At times we may be perplexed or in great distress; the storm clouds may gather fast, and perhaps we can see nothing but darkness all around: there seems to be no way out, and the enemy whispers that there is no use trying, for the struggle is too hard. But the voice o f God answers back, “ Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass.”

I am persuaded that the secret o f obtaining and retaining this glorious rest o f the soul is in obedience to the Word, and perfect submission to God’s will. Many things come up which we do not understand, we cannot see why they must be as they are, but we need not be troubled. This is the very time to cease our own struggles, rest in the Lord, and let Him have His way. We should commit the things we do not understand into God’s hands and leave them there, letting Him undertake for us. The dear Lord does not want us to be bowed down, carrying a big load of unnecessary burdens. He has told us to cast our burdens upon Him, for He careth for us. Praise our God! I f we learn to obey this Scripture we can be free from care and anxiety, and always rejoice in the God of our salvation.

If the enemy of our souls can get us to take our eyes off the Lord, and our minds off the unfailing promises of God, and place them on our surroundings, our trials and troubles, he can soon destroy our peace of mind and heart. He will at times try to make us believe that if our circumstances in life were different, if our surroundings were different, we could keep better victory. But God’s Word tells us that these circumstances and these trials that seem so hard are some o f the very things that will work for our good, if we love the Lord. No difference where or how we are situated in life, if we simply obey God’s Word, and in childlike faith settle down and rest on His promise, resisting the enemy in the name o f the Lord, we can triumph over every foe. The storms may rage without, but peace and quietness reign within. Oh, bless the dear Lord for this wonderful rest of the soul! It is our blessed privilege to so perfectly rest in the Lord that the daily trials will not move us in the least. Our peace will flow on like a river. It is a peace and rest the world knows not of.

Dear saints o f God, let us turn a deaf ear to the voice of the enemy, and press forward. The promises are ours. Every inch of ground that we set our feet upon in this blessed land, let us hold by the grace of God. Let us soar above the storm clouds and ride triumphantly on the wings o f faith. Let us face the foe, fight the battles, and enjoy all the Lord has purchased for us, and thus glorify Him by our lives.

Let us remember that rest comes not in laying our armor down, but in bravely fighting and conquering as we go.

Rest is not quitting life's busy career,Rest is the fitting of self to one’s sphere;’Tis loving and serving the highest and best,’Tis onward unswerving, that is true rest.

—Faith Stewart

God Is Man’s Refuge

“ Has my wife left yet?” was the question asked by a man on the other end o f the phone. After checking, he was told that his wife had driven away from the chapel. “ Oh, we are in trouble! I received a call from a man who said that he belonged to a certain gang and that he was going to kill my wife and child. I called the police and they confirmed that there was a gang by that name. They have now put a guard around my house.”

“There are still a few here in the chapel,” replied the pastor who had answered the phone, “ and we will go right to prayer for your protection. I’ll be calling you later.”

This Sister and little girl had about twenty-five miles to drive before they arrived home. We were really concerned about their safety and earnest prayers went up for them.

When I arrived home I called to check and see if the Sister had arrived home. She was there, and her husband said that the policeman was still walking the beat in front o f their house. The husband said that some fellows were mad at him on the job because he had to let them go (he was the foreman). He felt that it was those two men who were giving him trouble. The Lord had given me the ninety-first Psalm to tell them to read, and I told them that after reading it to have prayer and I would agree with them. Then they should just place themselves in God’s hands and rest, because I felt that He was going to take care o f them. This is what they did. Later, the Sister testified how the Lord so delivered her from fear that the next night after dark she thought about the cat that needed to be fed, and she went out and fed him, even though her husband had gone to work, as he worked nights. This was a great victory, and the Lord took care o f the situation that nothing ever came from it. (This happened a number o f years ago.)

Why don’t you open your Bible to the 91st Psalm? It is a wonderful Psalm. Every verse in it is full of comforting words which is a message to you from God. Down through the years, d ifferent ones have used these verses for comfort in times o f need. How precious it is to know “ He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow o f the Almighty.” What a safe place to dwell! Right under His A lm ighty care and keeping! No place could be safer. He is the One who rules the universe. He is the One who speaks and things will happen. In His sight we are told that “ the inhabitants . . . are as grasshoppers.” (Isa. 40:22). Those who might seek to harm us can be stopped by God, as they are weaklings in His sight What a great comfort this is to us! Let us build up our faith in the most holy God. Have trust, think trust and act like we are trusting. We can truly say of the Lord, “ He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Praise God, our trust is in Him! “ He shall deliver thee . . . He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night nor the arrow that flieth by day: nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness: nor for the destruction that wasteth at noon day. “What a

June, 1978 FAITH AND VICTORY Page Three

comfort these words are to us today who live in a world where violence is on the increase! It’s not the same world that it used to be in my earlier life in the twenties and thirties. Today, you do not dare leave your doors unlocked. People at all levels fear for their lives. Children and teen-agers, as well as older people, kill their parents, teachers, policemen, and neighbors. Homes are robbed and occupants are burned, robbed, etc. But we, as God’s children, have something to lean upon. We have the Word of God and our faith is firm in it.

One person was walking down a dark street and had to cross a bridge. Someone was follow ing her. She couldn’t think of all the Scripture that she wanted to quote to the Lord as her protection, but she did think o f “ feathers.” She went along saying, “ Feathers, feathers! feathers!” (verse 4). As she said it, she got louder and louder. The man who was following her soon took off and ran. Possibly he thought she was a mental case, but be that as it may, the Lord caused her to be protected and brought her home safely.

I read about a soldier in World War I who had a Testament in his shirt pocket. A bullet hit him and it stopped right on the verse, “ A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee.” Isn’t that precious?

During the terrible flu epidemic in 1917 or 1918, when thousands of people died, Sister Floyd told me that she stood on the verse of the 91st Psalm which said, “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” She said that none o f her children took it nor did she. She went from home to home, caring for the sick, and helping to lay out the dead. But God verified His promise to her and “ no plague came nigh thy [her] dwelling.” Praises be unto our God who never fails His trusting children! Let us have faith in God and trust Him in these perilous times.

—Sis. A. Marie Miles -------------------- o---------------------

The One-Talent Man(Matthew 25:14-30)

This parable represents the servants of the Lord in active work. It is given for the purpose o f cheering the faithful laborer with the promise o f reward, and o f warning the careless and negligent o f punishment: consisting, first, o f losing his talent; and, second, o f being cast into outer darkness.

To each servant, was given a certain amount o f money with which to trade during the absence of their lord. The distribution was made according to the ability of each individual. To the most capable were given five talents: to others, two talents; and to some, only one talent. When the reckoning time came, the five-talent man came and gladly told o f his success in doubling his lord’s money. The two-talent man did likewise. They were commended in equal terms and were told to enter into the joy o f their lord.

But the report o f the one-talent man was altogether different from that of the others. Imagining that his lord was a hard master to serve and was requiring too much at his feeble hands, he at once took the talent and hid it in the ground. When the reckoning time came, he told his lord how he had felt about it, saying, “ Lo, there thou hast that is thine,” referring to the hidden money. The sentence pronounced upon him was severe, but no other

could have been given. He was called wicked for harboring such evil thoughts, and slothful because he was not willing to make any effort whatever to accomplish what his lord expected him to do.

This parable is a profound lesson for all Christians of today. The main emphasis seems to fall upon the unfaithfulness of the one-talent man. It is a significant fact that it was the one-talent man who failed. Most of us count ourselves one-talent men. It may seem to be humility to do so, but let us remember that if we are one- talent men we must give extraordinary heed to duty or we may find ourselves unfaithful servants. How many of us have said or heard such expressions as, “ I am not talented to do anything,” or “ I cannot do or say anything worth while,” or “ I f I could talk like Brother A, or Sister B, I would not mind speaking”? The fact is that a great many good people who think themselves not very well qualified for work are excusing themselves on this account and doing nothing. To such I would advise the careful reading o f the Parable o f the talents, especially the part pertaining to the one-talent man, once a day, EVERY DAY until its meaning is fully comprehended and the buried talent is dug up and put into the most active use for the Lord.

There are numerous ways in which our talents may be buried. God expects us to use them. The fact that they were given to us implies that we can use them if we will. We are responsible for their use and if we do not do our duty, we will receive the condemnation o f wicked and slothful servants. Failure to use our talents is saying by our actions that God is a hard master, and that He is expecting too much o f persons so weak as we. “You are strong enough, if you count it so,” says the poet. “ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” said Paul. “ The weakest shall be as D avid.” Let us awake to a sense o f our responsibility and diligently use the talents God has given us. — R. L. B.

---------------------o—------------------TO THE OLDER CHRISTIAN

You may be growing older,And your step a mite bit slow;

You may not move as fast as once,But, oh, God loves you so!

You may think that you’re not needed,That your work here is through;

But, my beloved oldster,God has a plan for you.

Your white hair shows the wisdomYou have gathered through the years;

Your patience stands for victories—Proves you’ve conquered many fears.

Your sweetness shows that Christ indwells, His love in you abides;

As these virtues flow out from you,You are blessing other lives.

Oh, don’t ever be discouraged If others must wait on you;

You’ve done your share o f service,Just let His light shine through.

So rejoice and live for Jesus,And to others His kindness show;

You’re still wanted and still needed,You are God’s messenger, you know!

—Sel. by S. Goldsberry

Page Four FAITH AND VICTORY

FAITH AND VICTORY16-PAGE HOLINESS MONTHLY

This non-sectarian paper is edited and published in the interest of the universal CHURCH OF GOD each month (except August o f each year, and we omit an issue that month to attend campmeetings) by Lawrence D. Pruitt, assisted by Marie Miles and other consecrated workers at the FAITH PUBLISHING HOUSE, 920 W. Mansur, Guthrie, Okla. 73044.

(Second class postage paid at Guthrie, Okla.)Notice to subscribers: Whenever you move or change

your address, please write us at once, giving your old and new address, and include your Zip Code number. The post office now charges 2 5 f to notify us o f each change o f address.

Dated copy for publication must be received by the 18th of the month prior to the month of issue.

SUBSCRIPTION RATESSingle copy, one year.....................................$ .35Single copy, three years................................$1.00Roll of 4 papers to one address, one year...$1.00

Write for prices on larger quantities.This publication teaches salvation from all sin, sanc

tification for believers, unity and oneness for which Jesus prayed as recorded in John 17:21 and manifested by the apostles and believers after Pentecost. By God’s grace we teach, preach, and practice the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the same gospel which Peter, John, and Paul preached, taught, and practiced, including the divine healing of the body. James 5:14,15.

Its motto: Have faith in God. Its object: The glory of God and the salvation of men; the restoration and promulgation of the whole truth to the people in this “evening time” as it was in the morning church of the first' century; the unification of all true believers in one body by the love of God. Its standard: Separation from the sinful world and entire devotion to the services and will of God. Its characteristics: No discipline but the Bible, no bond of union but the love of God, and no test of fellowship but the indwelling Spirit of Christ.

Through the Free Literature Fund thousands of gospel tracts are published and sent out free of charge as. the Lord supplies. Co-operation of our readers is solicited, and will be appreciated in any way the Bible and the Holy Spirit teach you to do or stir your heart. “ Freely ye have received, freely give.” Read Exodus 25:2; 1st Chron. 29:9; II Cor. 9:7; and Luke 6:38.

Free-will offerings sent in to the work will be thankfully received as from the Lord. Checks and money orders should be made payable to Faith Publishing House.

A separate Missionary Fund is maintained in order to relay missionary funds from our readers to the support of home and foreign missionaries and evangelists.

In order to comply with the Oklahoma laws as a nonprofit religious work, the Faith Publishing House is incorporated thereunder.

FAITH PUBLISHING HOUSE P.O. Box 518 920 W. Mansur, Guthrie, Okla. 73044

Office Phone 282-1479 Home Phone 282-2262“ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virture, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8.

June, 1978

EDITORIALS

AS USUAL, THIS JUNE ISSUE is going to the press and in the mail just prior to the beginning o f the Oklahoma State campmeeting here at Guthrie. The first service will start, Lord willing, at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 26. A large attendance is expected, and a number o f people are coming for their first time. Our prayer is that the presence and power o f God will be felt in every service, that the preaching o f the Word will be accompanied by the convicting Spirit o f God, and that many souls will respond to the gospel invitation. Man must either repent or perish. There is no alternative. Let us who have repented and taken this holy way continue to yield to God and His ways and “ be found o f him in peace, without spot and blameless."

The Lord graciously gave this writer and wife a safe and pleasant round trip to Louisiana to see our first great grandchild, Carlos Lynn Doolittle, and to visit other relatives and saints in the Hammond and Loranger area and to be in services with them. My wife’s sister, Maude Hornbeck, and Sister Evelyn Taylor, the paternal great grandmother of Carlos, also accompanied us on this trip. Going and returning, we visited saints in Shreveport, La., and Marshall, Texas. Please pray for Sister Whitley at Marshall who recently suffered a facial stroke and has other afflictions.

The writer o f the 73rd Psalm was in a great temptation when he saw the prosperity o f the wicked until he went into the sanctuary o f the Lord. He wrote, “ But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity o f the wicked. . . . When I thought to know this, it was too painful for m e; until I went into the sanctuary o f God; then understood I their end.” Psa. 73:2, 3, 16, 17.

As we enter the sanctuary o f the Lord and linger in His presence, we will look at life and its questions in the light o f eternity. We will think and consider the end of this life even as this writer. The end of the wicked is expressed in Psa. 9:17, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” The end is what is important, for “ all is well that ends well.” After the writer o f the 73rd Psalm had gotten the victory over the temptation by entering the sanctuary o f the Lord, he prayed thus: “ Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength o f my heart, and my portion forever.” Psa. 73:24-26.

The Wise Man wrote this truth: “Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: but it

June, 1978 FAITH AND VICTORY Page Five

shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.” Eccl. 8:12, 13. One o f the saddest verses in the Bible is recorded in Eccl. 8:10, “ And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place o f the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done.” One of old exclaimed, "Let me die the death o f the righteous, and let my last end be like h is!” Num. 23:10. May this ever be our prayer also while time in this world shall last.

Correction, Please . . .In our editorials of the April issue it was errone

ously stated that Jesus ascended to heaven ten days after His resurrection. It should have read: “ The Scriptures declare that forty days after His resurrection He ascended to heaven from Mt. Olivet with His disciples as eye-witnesses. Then ten days later, on the day of Pentecost, Jesus fulfilled His promise in sending the Holy Spirit as a Comforter to abide with His Church forever.” Sorry for the error!

Special Gospel E ffort Toward the Germans . . .Brother Reinhard Mueller o f Edmonton, Alberta,

Canada, in co-operation with other brethren in that country, have begun a gospel literature ministry in the German language. For some time Bro. Mueller has been translating English tracts and a booklet to German and we have been setting the type and printing them for him. Recently, he launched out by faith and purchased an IBM typesetting machine, costing several thousand dollars, on which he now sets the type for tracts in the German language and sends the paged master copies to us for printing. Brother Mueller’s special burden at this time is to get the Bible truths that were taught and practiced by the Church of God Reformation prior to 1912 to the German-speaking people, and we are happy to cooperate fully with him and the other brethren in Canada and everywhere in this worthy purpose and aim. Since no one here at this office can read or write the German language, we would advise Germans who desire to receive German tracts for distribution to their German friends and neighbors to send your request written in either English or German directly to Bro. Reinhard Mueller, 10432— 64th Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, zip code T6H 1S7. Your earnest prayers and financial support o f this gospel literature ministry in the German language would be much appreciated by Bro. Mueller, and the Lord o f the harvest will reward you. Lord willing, Brother Mueller will be coming again to the National campmeeting at Neosho, Mo., in July. Pray for him and all our German brethren.

New Chapel in Use at Jefferson, Oregon . . .Bro. Ostis Wilson, pastor at Jefferson, Oregon,

informs us that the first service in their new chapel was held on Sunday, April 16th, and the first sermon in the new building was delivered by Brother

Jimmy Linch on the request o f Bro. Wilson. The campmeeting services beginning June 9th will also be held in the new chapel. May the Lord continue to bless and prosper the gospel work at Jefferson and throughout the Northwest.

"Men Arise, Speaking Perverse Things, . .The Apostle Jude diligently exhorted the Church

to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before o f old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace o f our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 3, 4. The scriptures repeatedly warn us to beware o f false prophets, many o f whom come in sheep’s clothing and as angels o f light. The Apostle Paul warned the elders at Ephesus in these words, “ Also o f your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space o f three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” Acts 20:30, 31. In spite o f these solemn warnings with tears, the church at Ephesus some years later was charged with having "left thy first love” by the message from Jesus through John the Revelator. The tide o f this evil world is so strong and deceptive spirits are so numerous that it is a real battle o f earnest prayer and diligent watching in order to maintain a victorious walk with the Lord and hold up the Bible standard on all the lines that were delivered to the Church by Jesus Christ and His apostles. The Lord is coming to receive that Church which is without spot and blameless. "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Rev. 3:11.

The Seventh Edition o f the book, "God’s Gracious Dealings,” containing 496 pages in a nice cloth cover, is NOW in stock.

Our sincere thanks and appreciation are extended to our readers who are so faithfully co-operating with us in this gospel literature ministry. — L. D. Pruitt

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ObituaryL u cy E v e ly n J o h n s o n was born to C hannie

Johnson and the late George Andrew Johnson in Okmulgee, Okla., on Feb. 11, 1923. She departed this life on March 24, 1978, in Akron, Ohio.

In the year o f 1965, she was united in marriage to Joe Givens o f Oklahoma City, Okla. In the early part o f 1978 she accepted Christ as her Saviour.

She leaves to mourn their loss: her husband, Joe Givens; her mother, Mrs. Channie Johnson; three sisters, Mary Wicks, Marlene Jones, and Zeonobia Johnson; four brothers, Booker Johnson, Ben Johnson, Willie Johnson, and George Johnson, and a host o f other relatives and friends.

The funeral services were conducted by Bro. James Bruner, and assisted by Sister LaDolia Fuller.

Page Six FAITH AND VICTORY Jane, 1978

Campmeeting Dates for 1978Following are the Church of God campmeeting dates

in 1978, and more complete announcements of each meeting will be made in later issues:—Oklahoma State at Guthrie, Oklahoma — May 26 to

June 4.Holly Hill, South Carolina— June 2 to 11.Jefferson, Oregon— June 9 to 18.

The campmeeting services will be held in the new chapel, but lodging and meals will be provided at the old property, as well as transportation between the two locations. Direction to new chapel: Go to the Texaco Service Station at the north edge of Jefferson, turn right on Marion Road for about % mile, then turn left on Sheldon Road % mile to chapel.

Tulsa, Oklahoma— June 9 to 18.Green Bank, W. Virginia— June 9 to 18.Hammond, Louisiana— June 24 to July 2.Oakland, California— June 23 to July 2.Ojos Negros, Baja Cfa., Mexico— July 3 to 9. Fresno, California— July 7 to 16.National Campmeeting at Neosho (Monark Springs),

Missouri— July 21 to 30.Myrtle, Missouri— August 2 to 9.Bakersfield, California— August 4 to 13.Boley, Oklahoma— August 18 to 27.California State at Pacoima— August 25 to Sept. 3.

o

OAKLAND, CALIF., CAMPMEETINGThe annual Church of God campmeeting at Oakland,

Calif., will be held June 23 to July 2, 1978. You are cordially invited and urged to attend these services. Upon your arrival in Oakland, contact Sister Doris Washington, 1447-72nd Avenue, phone 635-1786, or the pastor, Sister Velma Smith, 2901 Seminary, phone, 632-8211. —Doris L. Washington

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HAMMOND, LA., CAMPMEETINGThe annual campmeeting of the Church of God will be

held again this year on the General Southern Campgrounds located just off 109 White St. in Hammond, La., beginning on Saturday night, June 24, 1978, and continuing through Sunday, July 2, 1978.

We wish to extend to all saints of all nations a very warm welcome to come and be with us in this meeting, and enjoy the fellowship of the Spirit in the brethren. We are praying that God will send the Spirit-filled ministers o f His choosing to preach the Word of Truth needed in these last days.

Meals and lodging will be provided again as usual. The meeting will be supported on a free-will offering basis.

Please come praying that God will send forth His Word under the anointing o f His Spirit; that souls will be saved, bodies will be healed, and His saints stirred to a closer walk with the Lord, and a close unity with the brethren. —Bob Forbes

CAMPMEETING IN OJOS NEGROS, MEXICOThe time has again alm ost arrived for the Ojos

Negros, B. Cfa., Mexico campmeeting. It will convene from July 3-9, Lord willing. When you get to Ensenada, if you will go to the manager o f the Balboa Motel, he speaks English and can give you directions to Ojos Negros, which is about 29 miles to the north and east.

It would be very encouraging to the Escobars if some from the States could attend, especially those who carry a burden for souls and are able to help bring a portion of the Word of God or teach the children, that, they, too, can have more opportunity to grow in the Lord.

Any who can go could get back in plenty o f time for the National Campmeeting. Please make it a matter o f prayer.

Yours for souls in Mexico, —Sis. Opal Kelly---------------------o---------------------

R E V IV A L HELD IN SAN DIEGO, CALIF.

A revival meeting of the Church of God was held in San Diego, Calif., at the chapel located at 2902 Franklin Ave. Bro. Woodrow Warren o f Okmulgee, Okla., was with us throughout the meeting which was in progress from April 8 through April 16.

Truly, the Word of God was preached in its fullness under the anointing and power of the Holy Ghost. A number of California ministers and saints from different congregations were here. All were edified, uplifted, and encouraged to press the battle on. Our hearts were made to rejoice as we were with one accord and in one place. Much good was done. Many bodies were healed, and those out o f the ark of safety were left with no hiding place. We know that God’s Word will not return unto Him void. Pray for all of us.

We, in the San Diego congregation of saints, greatly appreciated the presence o f dear Bro. and Sis. Sam Abbott o f Pomona, along with the whole congregation being with us on the first Sunday of our meeting. Truly, their contribution to the service was directly influenced by that “ Higher Power” that Sister Abbott’s song tells us about.

—Bro. Alvin Lucas, Pastor, and Tora Mae Jensen, Sec.-------------------- o—-----------------

FRESNO, CALIF., SPRING MEETING REPORTThe Fresno, Calif., Spring Revival was a success. We

thank the Lord for those He sent in with a burden for the meeting. Some souls were saved, and some sought help on other lines.

Next to the last night o f the meeting, the whole congregation went to prayer seeking a greater spiritual stir. God’s Word was searching, instructing the saints to seek a deeper depth in God. We believe all the saints received a spiritual blessing. —Naomi Jennings

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NEW PASTOR AT AKRON, OHIOSister Hazel A. Clark resigned the pastorate at Akron,

Ohio, and Bro. Keith A. Fuller has accepted that responsibility. Everyone has a hearty welcome to the services at the chapel at 419-421 W. Thornton Street. Bro. Fuller’s address is 869 N. Jenkins Blvd., Akron, Ohio 44306, phone 216-773-3926. —By secretary, Sis. LaVem Shaw

June, 1978 FAITH AND VICTORY Page Seven

FIELD REPORTMo.—Dear Bro. Lawrence: . . . Bro. Egbert Allen told

me about his leadings to go to the spring meeting in Goulds, Florida, and asked me to drive for him. As this was a new responsibility for me, . . . I told him I would pray about it. The answer seemed to be, “ Go and I will take care o f all things.”

We left Bro. Egbert’s home at Norwood, Mo., and made our first stop at Bro. Louie Marler’s where we were in meeting at the chapel with the saints in southeast Missouri. Our next stop was at Bro. Roy Herron’s and the Whitson family in Alabama where we had a very blessed meeting. . . .

We arrived at Goulds, Fla., at Bro. Robert Mdntire’s home where we stayed the duration o f the meeting. God surely blessed in the meeting. The Word went forth very plain and clear, and the response was so wonderful. When the preaching went forth on any line where people felt a lack in their experience, they lined the altar time after time weeping and melting down before the Lord. The congregational singing and the specials were very inspiring, and many times there was much shouting and praising God.

There were not so many ministers there, but God used them in a special way. The preaching was under the anointing o f the Holy Spirit, and the ministers seemed to be under a great burden for souls and the old-time truth that was “ once delivered to the saints.”

The ministers present were Sister Katherine Williams and Sister Frances Chandler from Oklahom a City, Okla., Bro. Bowman from California, Bro. Hargrave, the pastor, Sis. Savage and Sis. Bonnie Riley o f the home congregation, and Bro. Egbert Allen. God used each in a clear and definite way.

The last night o f the meeting the burden for souls was so great it was hard to close the meeting. Most o f the saints gathered around the altar and did much praying.

Remember in prayer those who got saved in the meeting. One man from upstate came in. Nobody knew him, but when the altar call was given, he went up and prayed with the saints. He testified that the Lord had forgiven him o f his sins. . . . Another fam ily from central Florida came. The father got saved and left his cigarettes on the altar bench. Hold this brother and family up in prayer.

We love the saints at Goulds and felt so welcome there. The food was very good. Sister Hargrave and Sister Mclntire seemed to be the leaders in the kitchen, but most all the sisters and brothers helped. . . .

When we started home, we discovered a cracked distributor cap on the car, but got back to Brother M clntire ’s. The brethren, including Bro. Hargrave, fixed it for us and sent us on our way praising God. On the way home we stopped at different places and had meeting with the saints. The Lord blessed us. . . .

Remember our dear ministers and the saints at Goulds.

I hope to see you in the meetings this summer.—Amos Porter

---------------------o---------------------Perform each duty that comes daily in your way as

if all your reward in heaven depended on that act alone. —C. E. Orr

Prayer RequestsInd.—“Please pray for me, as I have glaucoma and

cataracts on both o f my eyes.” —Lettie WestOre.—“ I want you to pray for my son, and also for

his healing. I need healing o f my colon.”—Wilma Jenkins

Calif.—“ My oldest son was robbed and killed in his store recently. Oh, the pain I have felt and the burden seems more than I can bear! All I can do is to call upon God. . . . Only God can help me through the prayers and faith of the saints here and abroad.. . . Husband and I are no longer young, as our ages are 74 and 75. But I know the promises are for the greyheaded.” —Readers

Ohio—“ Brother Willard Underdown needs prayer for his healing.” —Earl Sharp

Okla.—Sis. Evelyn McCoy is gaining some strength. She had a number of hemorrhages from the place on her neck, but the Lord came to her rescue. She still needs prayer, as she does have some pain even yet.

Okla.—Remember dear Sis. Phebe Chandler in prayer. She has a serious affliction and needs healing from the Lord.

M ich.—Sis. Floyd Hines needs a touch from the Lord. She is very, very weak and suffers much. Bro. Hines is not well either. Pray that the Lord will provide some help for their care.

God has not lost any o f His power to heal, so be encouraged in the Lord. Healing is the children’s bread. We can come boldly to the Lord and ask Him for what we have need. He is there to help us in the way that we have need.

I have much for which to be thankful. I had a place on the side o f my forehead that did not heal and it had been there for several months, but the Lord has healed it and I am praising Him for i t It may be a small thing to others, but it was a big thing to me. Oh, we can’t praise and thank Him enough for all that He does for us.

—Sis. Marie Miles ---------------------o--------------------

NIGERIAN MISSION REPORTBendel State, Nigeria (April 27)—Dear Bro. Pruitt

and all the chosen o f the Lord: Greetings in the mighty name of Jesus who is Almighty in power, yet tender in love and plentiful in mercy. All glory and honour unto Him forever and ever!

Thank you for your letter dated April 5th with its enclosures, and many thanks to the Chief Supplier o f all good things. In your letter also were the documents and proof of prepaid round-trip airline ticket to present to the American Embassy for visa consideration. I shall travel to Lagos on May 1st to apply for the visa from the officials o f the American Embassy. If it is the Lord’s wish that I should participate in the forthcoming summer cam pm eetings in the U. S., the visa will be easily secured. A ll the saints who contributed liberally to purchase the plane ticket will be blessed o f the Lord beyond measure.

How I wish that Bro. and Sister John Varghese of India should be there! However, the will of God and not ours should be expected.

In the coming campmeetings what is needed is the unity o f action for the promotion o f the gospel of peace.

Page Eight FAITH AND VICTORY June, 1978

Let each o f us pray for a fresh enduement o f the Spirit o f power to reproduce the energy and effects o f the early church. To warm this cold, cold world, the church must experience a fresh baptism o f fire. . . .

Our energy in this field continues to be directed to the supreme task o f evangelism and personal witnessing from house to house which have been producing profitable results to the praise o f our Lord and Master.

Yours in Him, —Titus U. E. Enu(Editor’s note: On May 18th a representative of

the travel agency inform ed us that Bro. Enu had secured his visa and was scheduled to arrive in Oklahom a C ity on M ay 24 via the A m erican A irlines. Thank the Lord for opening the way for his coming. Lord w illing, a fter he attends this Guthrie cam pm eeting, he will attend the cam pm eeting at Tulsa, Okla., and others as they arrive provided a man or a couple will volunteer to take him in their car to those meetings. Traveling expense will be supplied.)

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REPORT FROM OJOS NEGROS, MEXICO,AND SPANISH LITERATURE PROGRESS

We are so grateful that even though one member of the congregation at Ojos Negros, Mexico, the mother o f six children, died three hours after the birth o f the seventh child, God worked. Permission was granted to have the “ wake” in the chapel, providing there would be no drinking, no smoking, and no cursing, and it was obeyed by all the Indians (relatives) at the “ wake.” Rosa was saved last summer and wanted to trust the Lord, live or die, for a serious condition in her body. The mother-in-law who is saved, and the husband insisted on a Christian funeral, to which Bro. Mayarino complied. A ll other relatives were Catholics, but came to him after the service, saying they had never witnessed a funeral like that. They liked all that was done. Our prayer is that many o f them will be saved. Please pray for all.

Recently, I received several new names and addresses to which to send Spanish literature, in Peru, and Chile, South America. Little by little, God makes it possible for the pure gospel to reach further.

Yours in His service,Mayarino and Panchita Escobar, Ap. Postal No. 284, Ensenada, B. Cfa. and Opal Kelly, 919 W. Mansur, Guthrie, Okla. 73044.

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REPORT FROM BRO. HAMMOND DOING GOSPEL WORK IN THE PHILIPPINES

Isabela, Philippines (May 1)—Dear Bro. Pruitt: Greetings o f hope and love through the abounding grace o f God. . . .

We arrived back here to Cauayan from a long trip up to the north coast and around the west coast to central Luzon. We were gone two weeks, but I believe it was very profitable. . . .

We visited a new pastor, Juan Pascual, who seems to be quite concerned about a community near his home in which to start a new work. . . . We also visited Bro. Santiago and he wants to teach the truth. . . . We also stopped at Bro. Tangunan’s and had meeting with them

yesterday and they are very hungry to know the truth___He seems very sincere.

These people are surely at the crossroads and are hungry for some spiritual light. . . .

Christian love, —Bro. George Hammond-------------------- o--------------------

MISSION REPORT FROM INDIASouth India (April 20)—My dearly beloved Bro. Pruitt,

each dear one at the Print Shop, and the saints abroad: We send our loving greetings to all o f you in the precious name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

Thank you very much for your very kind letter dated April 7th, and the enclosures were noted with much gratitude. Many thanks for the Sponsorship Declaration and other papers needed to get our visas to come to the United States this year to participate in the camp- meetings and thus to meet all our dear ones there. We will try our best to get my wife’s passport and our visas. Thank the Lord for the su fficient fund to get our tickets.

The new works in the new fields are in progress. A new chapel building was started in Vilengara and half the building is completed. We need funds for the rest o f the building for which we look to the Lord. A Sunday school was started in Nadukkunnu, the Catholic center, last Sunday and 25 children attended the school, including Hindus and Catholics. Please pray for these places in darkness.

With love and prayers, I remainYours in Christ, —John Varghese

(Editor’s note: As this issue goes to press, no word has been received from Bro. Varghese whether he and his wife have received their visas to come to the U. S. to attend the campmeetings. I f he gets his visa and his wife does not, he will come alone, Lord willing. A man or a couple are needed to volunteer to take them in a car to all campmeetings. Traveling expense will be supplied.)

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From the Mail Box . . .Ind.—Dear Brother Pruitt, saints at the Print Shop

and everywhere: I greet you in the lovely name o f Jesus, tiie most lovely name of all. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30.

Jesus paid that awful price for all, and has our pardon ready when we are willing to pay the price to get it. I believe the Bible, and I believe that it is the Word of God. “ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as o f the only begotten o f the Father) full o f grace and truth.” John 1:14. “ . . . Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” John 6:53. When we love Jesus more than all the world and all that is in it, and obey all His Word and put it in practice, we eat His flesh and drink His blood.

Jesus said, “ Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Matt. 24:35. Praise God!

June, 1978 FAITH AND VICTORY Page Nine

Remember Wife and me when you pray, as we do you and all the saints. Thank you for your prayers. . . .

Your Brother in the One Body, —Nathan Mobley

Okla.—Dear Sis. Marie: It is real good to get the tracts. They are a blessing to me and encourage me when I read them. God is always good to us and He supplies our needs.

If it were not for God being with me I don’t believe I could go on. I have many afflictions. I am sure God will heal me when He sees best. My afflictions could be for my good because I’m sure I pray more. If God can get more glory out of my life like it is, I’ll have to say amen to His will. There are so many of the saints who have afflictions on their bodies . . . but God can heal. He has healed me different times. I want all o f you to pray for me, also my three children, 30 grandchildren and about 50 great-grandchildren. I would also like for all of you to pray for my brother, Carl. He is in a nursing home at Enid. He fell and broke his hip.

I received the Faith and Victory paper. It gets better all the time. There are so many good writings in it.

I pray so much at night. I begin praying before daylight. . . . God is still on His throne. Prayer changes things. Many are called, but few are chosen. People are like they were in Noah’s day. They are so far from God. They would rather one wouldn’t say anything about salvation. . . .

I’ll pray for all o f you at the Print Shop, and you all pray for me. God bless all of you. . . .

—Sis. Della Harrison

Okla.—Dear Sister Marie: I am still encouraged to follow the Lord, and am thankful that He has saved my soul. I desire to obey the Lord in everything and to please Him even in the little things that He lays on my heart. I am satisfied in serving the Lord. I know He won’t put more on us than we are able to bear. I often read this Scripture. “ As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” I Peter. 2:2.

Pray for me that I be a faithful servant for the Lord.—Nettie Celestine

La.—Dear Sis. Marie: We . . . are glad to have our Faith and Victory paper coming again. We are thankful for all o f the blessings of the Lord to us and desire to live for Him.

It will be nice to have Bro. and Sis. Varghese come again. It won’t be long now until campmeeting season, and we are getting anxious for it again. . . .

May the Lord bless each of you there at the Print Shop for your labors for Him. I still have happy memories of my short stay there with all of you.

Pray for us to keep true to the Lord.—Cynthia (Miller) and Doyle LaCroix

Ore.—Dear Sis. Marie: Truly, God has been near and dear to me and my family. . . . Many mothers would appreciate very much if they could enjoy the blessing I am blessed with at this time. I do appreciate seeing my teen-age children trusting God fully for the healing of afflictions on their bodies.

About six weeks ago, Dennis (16 years o f age), fell off the bed and landed in such a way that at least one

rib was broken. When asked about going to the doctor, he said, “No,” he was going to trust the Lord. Praise the Lord for healing broken bones for His trusting children!. . .

Irwin (18 years of age), has been trusting God fully for his affliction, and we surely do appreciate all the prayers o f the saints for him. Last November his right knee swelled, and in January both knees were swelled. . . . We realized he was suffering with rheumatic fever. . . . He was in such severe pain. He asked me to call Bro. and Sis. Ostis Wilson (our pastor) for prayer and in less than an hour the awful pain was much lighter. . . . He kept improving until he was able to sleep in his bed instead o f a recliner. A ll a long he has shown improvement, but still is not well. Bro. and Sis. Wilson visit often and we do appreciate them.

Irwin said he was going to trust God all the way for his healing and that is what he has been doing. It seems he has been tried on all lines, but has kept encouraged through it all. We appreciate the cards and letters he has received.

Please keep praying for Irwin. He is ready to be healed, but says he is willing to suffer longer if it is God’s will. He has been unable to walk without crutches since the middle o f January. Irwin sits in his chair all day but has managed by the help of the Lord to attend one service most Sundays. . . .

I trust other teen-age young people w ill be encouraged to live for God and trust Him for the healing o f their bodies and for all things in their life.

Christian love, —Beverly Wattenbargero—o—o—o—o—o—o—o

Kans.—Dear workers for the Lord: Greetings to each o f you as we enjoy God’s love flowing from heart to heart, bringing fellowship—oh, what a privilege and pleasure! Surely, to know God and to have fellowship with His children is an experience that brings a real joy to the heart.

We have been in situations recently in which we have seen more closely the emptiness of false religions. People seem to think that there is no more to religion than formality and something to tickle the ears, but, oh, if they could only have their spiritual eyes opened for a glimpse o f what God actually does for the soul and o f what the true fellowship o f God’s people is like, they would certainly see that the false religion is vain! Souls are blinded by deception, and what a pity! Each person will meet God someday and give an account o f his soul. I f he has been led by “ the blind,” he will not inherit the blessings God designed for him in the beginning. Thus, salvation and its benefits are surely a treasure and must be guarded lest our experience diminish and our spiritual eyes become blinded. . . .

We have especially enjoyed the last few issues o f the Faith and Victory. The article on “ Values Clarification” was certainly an eye-opener. We didn’t even realize such was going on. The devil is so sly, but so bold, in pushing his way in.

Christian love, —Donald and Marilyn Eck

Okla.—Dear Sis. Marie: Greetings o f love in Jesus. I am happy to know that God loves us. “ Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is b6m o f G od .. . . For whosoever is bom o f God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in

Page Ten FAITH AND VICTORY June, 1978

himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his son.” I John 5:1,4,10. God is truth, He is faithful. “ If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” II Tim. 2:13. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son o f God hath not life.” I John 5:11,12. These are precious truths! The precious song in the Evening Light Songs, page 420 “ Behold What Love,” is so true! Oh, the depth of the love of God! The Lord is very precious, helping in the trials of this life! —Sis. Eva Penner

Kans.—Dear fellow-workers: I hope you are all encouraged to continue in the path which our Lord and Saviour trod before us. “ It’s the good old way, the gospel way, which my Saviour’s feet have trod. It’s the bloodstained way, the Calv'ry way, and it leads straight up to God.” . . . —Letha Phillips

Calif.—Dear Sis. Marie: . . .“This is the day which the Lord hath made,” and we want to “ rejoice and be glad in it.” Psa. 118:24. It is a beautiful day and the little birds are singing and doing their best to make us happy. God surely loves beautiful things. When I see the many colors of flowers, birds, and trees, I am made to marvel at His great wisdom and wonderful love for man. I do love and appreciate His gracious dealings with me. . . .

—Sister Agnes Huskey ------------------—o---------------------

Testimonies and Answers to PrayerOre.—Dear Sis. Marie: I would like to testify how

the Lord healed me recently o f a bad nose bleed. I lost nearly a quart of blood. It lasted for about two and one- half hours. Some of the saints at Jefferson came and prayed for me. My children insisted that I go to the hospital. Wanda Luhring went with me, but they didn’t help me at all, and I didn’t take any medication. The Lord healed me and I haven’t had any nose bleed since. The Lord has healed me many times. I surely do give the Lord all the glory.

I surely do enjoy the Faith and Victory paper and read it through. I enjoy the messages and testimonies. We thank you for your labors o f love. May the Lord bless and reward all o f you. —Sis. Helen Haven

Mo.—Dear ones: My heart is tilled with thanks and praises to our wonderful Saviour and Friend, Jesus Christ our Lord!

Many o f the saints knew of the afflictions I was under for two years or more, especia lly the heart condition that kept getting worse. This past winter I could scarcely do any work. Even to wash the dishes would cause my heart to labor hard, skip beats and have a shortness of breath. I had come to the place where I wondered if the Lord wanted to take me on Home. I had fully resigned to His will. Then the Lord began talking to my heart. He pointed out to me how the enemy was taking advantage o f me. I began to take notice that so many times I had the hardest attacks on Wednesday evenings and Sundays, so I could readily see how the enemy was cheating me of my spiritual

food. Then the Lord brought to my mind the Scripture in Luke 4:38-40 where Simon’s mother-in-law had a great fever. Jesus came in and stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. Then one time in worship we read Luke 13:11-13, about the woman who had a spirit o f infirmity for eighteen years. I was inspired to take my stand against the enemy, to rebuke the spirit of infirmity. By the grace and help o f the Lord I did so, and it was marvelous how the Lord came on the scene for me. I have some tests, yes, but I feel like a different person. Thank the dear Lord! I am able to work again. The Lord showed me that the enemy didn’t care how much we asked for prayer for our healing, so long as we didn’t take God’s promises and claim them. When we come to the place that we believe the Word, take our stand to rebuke the enemy, he can not stay around. “ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you . . .” James 4:7,8. We know this promise to be true.

We mean to keep humble at Jesus’ feet and obey Him to the end. Pray for us. —Natalie Allen

Canada—Dear saints: God has done great things for us, whereof we are glad.

Our son, Sid, for whom we requested prayer, is completely well and went to work today for the first time since he had the brain abscess. . . . Thank you so much for carrying the burden with us to our wonderful God in prayer, “ Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.” Psa. 103:3.

May God bless you richly as you continue in this wonderful work. —John and Daisy Rabel

Okla—Dear Sister Marie: Just a few lines to say we appreciate you and your fellow workers who are working to spread the gospel.

We have so much for which to be thankful. A year ago Derek had a bad case of eczema and it was such a trial to us. His skin looks normal now and we have learned some valuable lessons through the trial.

Remember us in your prayers.—Dale and Linda Probst

Tenn.—Dear Sister Marie: I trust all there at the Print Shop are happy in the Lord today. I trust that Bro. Lawrence is feeling better in his affliction, and pray that the Lord will soon see tit to completely heal him.

My niece (Sandra Whitson) and I were discussing about how long he and also Bro. Murphy Allen had been afflicted, and how hard it was to understand why the Lord would allow them to continue to be afflicted when they are both so dedicated to the Lord and doing such a great work. Sandra said, “ But you know, Aunt Mary, it has really done much to increase my faith to see them so faithful and still trusting, even though God hasn’t seen fit to heal them yet.” I pray that God will completely heal them both real soon.

I have been having a battle with arthritis for about six weeks now. I was real bad for a while. Pearlene (my sister) and Sandra Whitson came to see me and spent about three days. I asked them to anoint and pray for me, which they did. Even while they were

June, 1978 FAITH AND VICTORY Page Eleven

praying I felt the touch o f God’s healing power and the soreness began leaving at once. They left for home the next day, and I was still better. About two nights later 1 began to have a burning, tingling sensation all over my body. It would start in my body and go through me to the end o f my toes and fingers. After the burning sensation would leave, it would be sore in the joints that had not been bothering me. This kept going on for a couple o f nights. I never heard o f arthritis acting like this. I didn’t get scared, but would just look to God, pray and trust that He would take it all away. I said, “ God, I know you are able to heal whatever it might be. I f it is Satan causing this to make me doubt my healing, I am not going to doubt it because I have done what the Bible told me to do, and now I am counting on You to do the rest.” I didn’t say much about this to anyone, but just kept my trust in God. After about two nights o f lying awake with this and just lifting my heart up to God in seasons o f prayer, this all began to leave and I got better again.

Last Saturday morning, I awoke with my left leg hurting real bad again, so bad that I could hardly pick my foot up—just almost had to drag it. I managed to get breakfast for my husband and got him off to work. I called my sister Pearlene again and asked them to have a special agreement o f prayer for me, which they did, and it began to get better at once. I lay back down and fin a lly went o f f to sleep. When I awoke, just about all the hurting had gone. Praise God for His goodness to me! The devil can never win if we just stay true and keep trusting in God. My Bible says, “ Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” I John 4:4b. Praise His name forever! I know God is going to do a complete job. Continue to pray for my complete healing, and that I will ever trust God and grow stronger in Him. I praise God for the strength I have gained spiritually since I ’ve been afflicted physically. . . . —Mrs. L. C. Rogers

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Question and A n sw er Colum n

By Ostis B. W ilson

Q uestion : In the 13th chapter of I Corinthians where it gives the definitions o f charity, one is “ It thinketh no evil.” I f I have known my loved ones to do evil and I think that they will or are doing wrong, does this mean I do not love them? A lso could you tell me what it means, “ Does not behave itself unseemly” ?

A nsw er: To think that the wrongs people do—our loved ones or anyone else—is evil is not what is covered in this text. Black is black and white is white. If the thing done is wrong it is just plain evil and we think it is evil and would not be justified in thinking anything else. Brother C. E. Orr said that God did not want us to be blind and not see anything as evil but He did want us to have grace and wisdom enough to know how to handle what we see in the right way. However, to think one is doing wrong or will do wrong because he has done wrong before could be mere suspicion or imagination inspired by what we know has been done in the past. It would not be charitable to do this unless the wrong has been repeated sufficiently to establish a pattern. Zech.

8:17 says, “And let none o f you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour.”

Adam Clarke says that the original text here implies that he does not invent or devise any evil; or, does not reason on any particular act or word so as to infer evil from it. To do this would destroy his love for his brother and would be ruinous to charity and benevolence. A heart filled with and governed by this divine love could never think of evil only where evil was evident and would not ascribe a bad motive to a good deed. (End of quote). Then for one to judge one by any particular act or word and say in his mind “ He meant this or that by that” because we just did not have a very good feeling toward him any way, would be uncharitable and wrong. Again—to say when a person with whom one is at some variance does a good, kind deed toward us that he is just trying to gain some advantage now by doing this good deed is surely uncharitable and wrong.

Also some other translations present a pretty clear idea of what is here meant. One translation says, “ It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong.” The Amplified Bible says, “ It takes no account o f the evil done to it—pays no attention to a suffered wrong.” Phillips’ Translation says, “ It does not keep account o f evil.” The 20th Century New Testament says, “ Never reckons up her wrongs.” The New English Bible says, “ Love keeps no score on wrongs.” All o f these translations carry the thought that a person who is actuated by love never allows his mind to think on the wrongs done to him and never wastes his time by thinking on these things.

There is also the angle of thinking and devising in one’s mind evil things to do as people o f the world sometimes do. Certainly no child o f God, actuated by the love o f God, would ever spend time thinking of such things for himself.

None of these things relate to the thought expressed in your question, so I conclude the statement regarding charity thinking no evil does not relate to what you mention in your question.

NEXT: “ Does not behave itself unseemly.” The word unseemly is defined in the dictionary as: 1. Not according with established standards of good form or taste. 2. Not suitable for time or place: Inappropriate, unseasonable.

Love never acts out o f its place or character. Love observes due decorum (that is behavior conforming to and in accordance with the accepted standard of what is right, fitting, or regarded as good form) and good manners, and is never rude, brutish, or discourteous. To be rude, unmannerly or discourteous is entirely out o f harmony with the Spirit of Christ and the love o f God.

Christians are admonished in I Peter 3:8 to be o f one mind, to love as brethren, to be pitiful, and to be courteous. Surely one possessed of this true love would always seek to avoid rudeness and brashness and seek to avoid paining, wounding or offending any with whom they deal. A meek and quiet spirit is in keeping with the disposition and manners of Christ and to manifest any thing of a boisterous nature or to be self-assertive and brash in one’s behaviour would surely be “ unseemly” behavior for one who names His Name. We are to be like Him (Rom. 8:29; II Cor. 3:18; I John 3:2,3; I John 4:17) and anything not in keeping with the nature and disposition o f Christ is unseemly behavior for a Christian.

Page Twelve FAITH AND VICTORY June, 1978

Saints are instructed in Titus 2:10 to adorn the doctrine o f God our Saviour in all things. Again, saints are admonished in Phil. 1:27 to have our conversation as it becometh the gospel o f Christ. In I Tim. 2:9,10 godly women are instructed to dress and behave in a manner becoming to women professing godliness. The immodest and indecent styles and dress prevalent in the world today and all the adornment with gold, pearls, costly array, fancy hair-dos, etc. are all contrary to the pure, meek, holy, humble, quiet, reticent spirit o f Christ and are unseemly and unbecoming to women professing godliness.

“ Doth not behave itself unseemly” is rendered in Moffatt’s Translation as “ Is never rude.” The Berkeley Translation says “ or unmannerly.” Beck’s Translation says “ It isn’t indecent.” The Amplified Bible says “ It is not rude (unmannerly), and does not act unbecomingly.”

I conclude that anything we cannot do “ to the glory o f God”—I Cor. 10:31; or anything we could not do “ in the name of the Lord Jesus” —Col. 3:17; or anything which would be contrary to the nature and spirit of Christ and in any way or to any degree dishonoring to Him would be “ Unseem ly” (improper behavior) for saints.

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Early Child TrainingThe sixth verse o f the twenty-second chapter of

Proverbs reads as follows: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This does not mean that we should let him have his own way, or do as he pleases. You should begin training your child just as soon as it knows when you speak to it. In demanding obedience o f children, you should, where possible, cause them to comprehend a reason for it. When you tell the child not to do a thing, tell it why it must not. The more obedient you make your children, the more they will love you; but unless you teach your child obedience while small, you need not expect to make it obedient all at once when it grows older.

If you were to train a horse, when would you begin? You say, “When it is a little colt.” First you would put the halter on it, and let it become used to that; and the sooner it gets it on, the less trouble there will be. After a while you can put the bridle on, and soon will be able to put the whole harness on. The first thing you teach it is obedience. The more obedient it is, the easier it is to drive; and when you do have it trained to drive, you do not let it go where it wants to, turn at every comer it would like to. No; it must go where you want it to.

Have you ever known parents who seemed to take more pains in training their horses than in teaching their children? Parents, your children are given you in trust to be trained up for the Lord. Their training is of more importance than anything else you may have to do; for they have immortal souls that must spend eternity either in heaven with the obedient or in the regions o f the lost with the disobedient.

The experience o f a mother with two children comes to my mind. She was converted when her son was about seven years o f age. Her husband was an unsaved man, and was opposed to the truth. He seemed determined that she should not rear the children for the Lord, and that they should not be obedient to her. He used to say

to the boy, “Never mind, you will be old enough one of these days so that she cannot make you mind.” Did that mother get discouraged and let her children go—let the devil have them? No: she said, “The devil shall never have my children.” She said nothing to her husband, and seemed not to hear what he said. She looked up the Scriptures on children’s duty to their parents and the Lord, and had the children read them; then the passages on parents’ duty to their children. The children were surprised to find such words in the Bible. Then she said, “ Children, do you want Mamma to lose her soul, and go where she can never see Jesus?” Oh no! they did not want that to happen. Then she said, “ I must do my duty, and you must help me; for if I do not, I cannot keep saved.” The mother succeeded; and if this mother, whose husband was unsaved and opposed to her, could train her children to be obedient, is there any excuse for disobedient children when both husband and wife are saved?

Some parents say they love their children too well to punish them. You are mistaken. The mother who punishes her children when they do wrong is the mother who really loves them.

Have confidence in your children, and let them know that you have. Do not be afraid to encourage them in doing the right. Never tell them that they are bad, nor that they are the worst children you have ever seen. Make them know they have to mind—that is half the battle. I f you cannot make them mind, do not let them know it. Never let them think they will get too old or too large to obey you.

Mother, dress to please the Lord, and dress your child in the same manner. Your child should never be allowed to wear anything that you cannot wear. If you put little extras on her, you are getting som ething planted in the little heart that will cause you both trouble in the future. If you are careful along this line when she is small, you will have no trouble in getting her to dress to please the Lord when she is older.

One little girl got a lesson from her doll. One day while her mother was away from home, an unsaved girl came to visit them. The little girls thought they would make the doll a dress. So they went to the rag- sack, and there found one o f the little girl’s dresses that she had worn before her mother’s conversion, all trimmed with embroidery and lace. They proceeded to dress the doll up in the w orld ly dress. When the mother returned, she said: “ Why! what is the matter with that doll? Does it look like a saint?”—“ O Mamma, it is only a doll.” —“ Yes, but can Mamma put things on you that she cannot wear herself?” The little girl saw the point, and the next time the mother saw the doll, it had on a plain dress, and it never had any other kind after that.

When boys reach the age o f twelve or fourteen, they must have someone who will take an interest in them. Be interested yourself in what they are interested in. If you are not, they will seek someone who is, and that person may be one with whom you do not wish your child to associate. Play with your children. There is more fun for them if mamma plays. “ Oh,” you say, “ I haven’t time.” It will pay you to take time. When you have grown older, they will reward you for the time spent with them, by being a com fort and a blessing.

June, 1978 FAITH AND VICTORY Page Thirteen

Some mothers send their children off to the neighbors in order to get rid o f them. Do you know that this in one reason why children get tired o f home and at an early age seek company elsewhere? It is only a habit. Parents should always know with whom their children keep com pany; and i f fathers and m others would spend more time in entertaining them, they would not seek the companionship of others so much.

When you go to meeting, see that your children remain quiet and do not disturb others. Never become so interested as to forget your children and let them go outside, walk around, get a drink, or stay outside with other children. It is in just this way that many boys and girls get into trouble. Teach your children that they should get a drink or anything they may want, before going in to meeting, and that they can not get it during the service. Mother, there is need o f examples. Why not let your child be one?

Keep the ch ild ’s mind tender toward God and toward you. Should your child be disobedient, have a talk with him alone. Take him on your knees; talk to him in a tender, loving way until his little heart has been melted, and he has become willing to ask forgiveness. Kneel and pray with him.

Have everything settled i f possible, before the children go to bed. Never punish them by sending them to bed without a good night kiss, as it is not good for them to go to bed with a disturbed mind.

Children are tender little plants, and they need much training and pruning; but, parents, they will abundantly reward you if you train them up in the way they should go. —Mary A. Wiland

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A Road to ProsperityFor all the difficulties o f life there is abundant

provision in the Word of God. When one does not prosper in the Christian walk there is a reason. Some departure has been made from the plan o f God.

One of the wisest sayings o f Solomon is contained in these w ords—“ He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Prov. 28:13. It is possible for one to fall into error or sin: but if we do, let us be wise enough to take the Bible way out. Sins committed against God may be confessed to God only; but sins committed against our fellow men must be confessed also to them before we may hope to prosper spiritually.

James also has written good advice. “ Confess your faults one to another.” Jas. 5:16. Harsh words or actions are faults. If we should speak or act thus, let us be frank to confess our faults. If we are humble enough to do this, God will give grace to get rid of such defects o f character. Any other fault should be treated in the same way. Confess and forsake them. No other way is successful, because no other way is God’s way.

A person who will not confess his faults will soon manifest more serious ones, and in time he will be a fit subject for deceptive and deluding spirits.

A preacher or other person who advocates false teaching, and after it is exposed continues his loud profession without acknowledging his fault to those he wronged, will not prosper.

God’s way is best—let us follow it. —R. Rothman

“ Values Clarification”(Part 2)

I have before me a book entitled Values Clarification. It is a book for teachers explaining the purpose o f “ Values C larification” and how to present it to the students. Let me quote just a little from it. “ . . . Young people brought up by moralizing adults are not prepared to make their own responsible choices. They have not learned a process for selecting the best and rejecting the worst elements contained in the various value systems which others have been urging them to follow. Thus, too often the important choices in life are made on the basis o f peer pressure, unthinking submission to authority, or the power o f propaganda.”

According to the above, if you were brought up by parents with morals; i f you had to submit to your parents without asking questions; i f you had to do something because you were told to do it, then you are an irresponsible person. Is this what you want your child to be taught in school?

In the book there are 79 activities or tests that can be administered to the students. Let me give you the rules for one activity called “ Brainstorming.” I quote, “ 1. No evaluation o f any kind is allowed in a thinking session. I f you judge and evaluate ideas as they are brought up, people tend to become more concerned with defending their sides than with thinking up new and better ones. Evaluation must be ruled out. 2. Everyone is encouraged to think up as wild ideas as possible. It is easier to tame down a wild idea then to pep up a bland idea. In fact, if wild ideas are not forthcoming in a brainstorming session, it is usually evidence that the individual participants are censoring their own ideas. They are thinking twice before they spout out an idea for fear that they may come up with a silly one and sound foolish. 3. Quantity is encouraged. Quantity eventually breeds quality. When a great number o f ideas come pouring out in a rapid succession, evaluation is generally ruled out. People are free to give their imaginations wide range, and good ideas result. 4. Everyone is encouraged to build upon or modify the ideas o f others. Com bining or m odifying previously suggested ideas often leads to new ideas that are superior to those that sparked them.” End quote.

With the filthy minds o f the young people today, do you want your child going to school to listen to others spout off everything they can think o f and disclose all their wild imaginations? Are not these rules in direct contradiction to the careful teaching you received on thinking before you speak?

In James 3:13, it says, “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.”

Let’s not be deceived into thinking that we can send our children into these types o f conditions six hours a day, five days a week, without great pressure being exerted upon them to change their lifestyle.

Many teachers, counselors, principals, and other school officials do not seem to be interested in preserving the home life which our country was founded upon.

I know of one case in which a counselor told a young person that he was trying to live too strict a life. He wanted to know why he wasn’t like others.

Page Fourteen FAITH AND VICTORY June, 1978

Sad to say, in that conversation the counselor tore down his mother’s Christian teaching and this young person became like others in a very deplorable situation, however, we are glad that he had enough good moral teaching that he later sought the Lord.

As our children grow up before the age o f attending school, let’s instill in them the path that they should take. We of ourselves cannot do this, but with God’s help I believe we can rear children that would become good m oral saints and be a benefit to our society.

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Where Is Your Treasure?

“ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matt. 6:21. These are the words o f Jesus. The heart o f man is the seat o f emotion, especially o f love and affection . The A postle Paul wrote, “ Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Col. 3:2. We are to control our affections. The marginal reading for affection is “ mind.” We are to keep our minds stayed on the Lord. (Isa. 26:3). “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” II Cor. 4:18.

That which we are interested in more than anything else is our “ treasure.” Our heart, our love and affections will be flowing out of our inner most being to that which we treasure most. We should rejoice because God made us free moral beings, having the right to choose the way we should direct our minds, our affections and love.

We should never let our love become lukewarm; never lose our first love. Our first love surely must be that love which came into our hearts when we were bom of the Spirit. This first love should increase as we walk with Him, learning more about Him. We receive the fullness o f this love when the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5). Think o f the many who have lost that first love and have not repented, have not done their first works and the candlestick (the light from heaven) has been removed from their souls.

The beloved Apostle John writes, “ Whosoever is bom o f God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is bom of God.” I John 3:9. As long as His seed, this seed from heaven, remaineth which has been planted in our hearts, it will bring forth and bear fruit if we cultivate i t What is this seed? It must surely be the love of God which is shed abroad in our hearts. As long as we walk in the light of heaven, obeying the command, “ Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matt. 22:37), we shall not be committing sin.

Satan works many devices in order to keep us from obeying this commandment. Our dear Brother Paul said, “ . . . for we are not ignorant o f his devices.” II Cor. 2:11. No, we shall be aware of his devices as long as we walk in God’s love, following closely to Him. But when we begin to follow Him “ afar off,” as Peter did on the way to the high priest’s palace (Matt. 26:58), we shall fall under the device of Satan just as he did.

When we become lukewarm and open to the devices of Satan; unless we repent, we shall be spued out of His mouth. (Rev. 3:16).

Satan has one outstanding device which he is using more today than any other device to draw souls away from the love of God. This device may not be one of his inventions, but nevertheless he is making use of it to increase his kingdom and enlarge hell. Isaiah, in speaking o f those who love the things that are in the world, wrote, “Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth [loves and rejoices in worldly things], shall descend into it.” Isaiah 5:14. This device that is sending more souls to hell than all the devices of Satan is none other than the television.

There is but one way to escape all the devices of Satan. Keep close to God, the One who has all power in heaven and upon earth.

Satan can never get a television installed in the home of the saints as long as both father and mother keep themselves in the love o f God. I speak in love to every one. If you have fallen under this device, go on your knees before God, and seek Him with all o f your heart. Ask Him to show you if He is pleased or displeased with you having the television in your home. I am sure that He will answer your prayers if you really want to know. But if you have chosen-to have your own way regardless o f what the leaders of this reformation teach, and what the Scripture teaches, “ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world,” you w ill not seek G od to know the truth o f this matter. My dear ones, can we say that we believe that God blessed the television and that it is a device that will draw men to God and build one up spiritually? Oh, dear ones, today some who love home life, but do not even claim to be saved, are putting the television out of their homes because they see it is destroying their home life and causing their children to fall into the evil ways of lowest humanity!

Television . Let us define this word. The dictionary definition is “ the transmission o f visual images as a series o f electrical impluses.” To tell is “ to manifest, to make known, to reveal something to others.” Things are revealed to us by what we hear and see. The television reveals thoughts to us more through the eye than through the ear. It has been said that ninety per cent of what is revealed to us comes through the eye. We meditate on that which is revealed to us.

If the television were fully in the hands o f godly men, it would be a wonderful blessing. But worldly- minded people operate it, and it is just like the movies. Those who develop these visions, give the public what they want. Today it is almost as bad (the minds of men are almost as corrupt) as when it was written, “The imaginations of the thoughts of his [man’s] heart was only evil continually.” Gen. 6:5. “ For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Prov. 23:7a. The minds o f almost all o f the worldly minded enjoy feasting on that which is corrupt. Therefore, this is the greater part o f what is seen on the television. God’s true children think on that which is pure. “ . . . If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil. 4:8.

- H . P. Huskey

June, 1978 FAITH AND VICTORY Page Fifteen

Faith and TrustNow we come to something o f great interest to the

follower o f the Lord Jesus, something worthy o f much consideration. We have now learned about faith; o f its necessity, and how to make use o f it. But there are those who have much faith, yet do not know much about trust; who have not yet learned the secret to perfect trust. People sometimes in order to exercise these graces o f the Spirit get into a habit of straining the mind and the nerves to exercise them. That is all unnecessary. While it is necessary for us to get in earnest, and have a real holy zeal in the work of the Lord in the exercise of these things, yet that is different from straining ourselves in order to exercise them.

A brother who had been for years under the influence and power of false doctrine, insomuch that his mind was in almost a constant turmoil, when awakened to his condition found it very difficult to lay hold upon the promises o f God. Through the united prayers o f others he was enabled to find deliverance from the binding powers o f Satan, and renounced his false teachings; but his mind had been so impaired by the enemy that it was hard for him to exercise faith, and hold a real victory over the powers o f the enemy for any great length of time. He finally reached the point where, after commencing like a little child to learn the simple teachings o f the Word and the Holy Spirit, he was enabled to exercise considerable faith. Yet he would strain his mind in order to do so; and brought his mind and nervous system into a great strain in order to hold what he would apparently gain. One evening while having a battle with the enemy on this line, he came for aid that he might know what was in his way of retaining a real victory. He said that he had been told that he lacked trust, as he had been straining his mind and nerves very much in order to do so. We then asked him if he had been straining his mind and nerves concerning a place to stay that night among his friends with whom he was making his home. He answered, “No,” and said that he did not bother over that a particle. He knew that he was welcome, and knew that his friends would not turn him out, and had not bothered anything about it. We told him that was exactly what was meant by trust; that was perfect trust, because he knew everything was all right concerning his staying there, and all he had to do was to keep in line with the rules o f the house, and everything would be all right. He saw the point, and saw that it was not necessary to strain his mind in order to trust himself in God’s hands, who was much more able and willing to give good gifts and to keep him than any earthly parent could possibly be. The next day he came again and